Las Vegas bar food to keep the hangry away

Drunk plus hangry is a bad combo. Fortunately, Las Vegas plus bar food is a fantastic one. We’ve got so many places to eat and drink in this town that we couldn’t possible narrow it down to 10, except that’s exactly what we just did. Keep in mind, we’re talking bars that have food, not restaurants that have bars. So if your favorite spot didn’t make the list, that’s probably why. And if your other favorite spot didn’t make the list, well, just assume we’re drunk when writing these.

When you want to get your grub on with some greasy, delicious bar food in Vegas, these are some of the best places to go. They’ve got the drinks and the eats to keep you going throughout your entire stay.

Those are garbage fries and that sound is your stomach needing them. Photo courtesy of Park on Fremont.

Park on FremontWhat to try: Garbage fries
It’s been almost an hour since we wrote anything about Park on Fremont. We were starting to get the shakes. But it’s OK now. We’re getting our fix by telling you again how awesome the food is at Park on Fremont, the manic pixie dream bar of Fremont East. From mac ’n’ cheese balls to garbage fries and fried pickles, the bar food is as outstanding as the atmosphere. They also have full meals if you want to plan your whole night around this place, including a friendly vegetarian wrap which is much nicer than some of those unfriendly vegetarian wraps out there. It told us we were pretty, right before we ate its face. There are plenty of tables out front to people watch and out back in the beautiful patio space.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese with edamame. We’ve devoured this many times. Photo courtesy of Mingo.

Mingo Kitchen and Lounge in the Arts DistrictWhat to try: #CHEESE4PLAY
If you know the Vegas bar scene, you had to expect this spot to show up here. From the mind of Mundo restaurant, Mingo is a trendy lounge in the Las Vegas Arts District that sets the tone for any night. The place is dark and elegant but totally approachable. And they understand the needs of the modern bar eater. There are USB ports at the bar and each menu item has a hashtag, so you can brag to your friends that you tried the #FRYRIE or #SIZZLESTICKS. Those are the less dirty sounding ones. This is the place for an intimate bite with friends, more than friends, friends with benefits or hell, even frenemies. Put aside your differences and come together for delicious food in amazing atmosphere.

They call it Bye Felicia, but we’re feeling nice. Felicia can have some too. Photo courtesy of Beerhaus.

Beerhaus at the ParkWhat to try: Not Your Daddy’s root beer float
The newcomer on the list, Beerhaus is a bit of beerness in the otherwise lush and pristine Park that spans the space between Monte Carlo and NYNY. Beerhaus is a casual spot to rest up and relax with a brew or try the nice selection on tap. They also have plenty of food including bratwurst and brisket. If you’re more of the sweet tooth, try the Bye Felicia ice cream cookie or the “Not Your Daddy’s” root beer float. The secret ingredient is alcohol. So it may not be like your daddy but it’s a lot like an algebra teacher we had once. Pop in to Beerhaus as you walk through the Park, or make it your destination for the evening. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this spot.

This is called Kaspressknödel. We don’t know what that means but we want it. Photo courtesy of Hofbrauhaus.

HofbräuhausWhat to try: Der Pretzels
Hofbräuhaus ist wunderbar. Und we… ran out of German that we know. Unless you need us to danke or bitte something we’ll stick to English from now on. Hofbräuhaus is one of our favorite spots in town. It’s authentic and always a good time. And the food is out of this world. Traditional German fare is served including all sorts of wursts and itzels and stuff with umlauts on its umlauts. And every last morsel is delicious. Sit at the family-style tables and strike up a conversation with strangers or partake in the stein holding contests on the weekends. It’s all good at Hofbräuhaus. Word of advice: Get paddled before you eat a large meal. You don’t want someone smacking your bottom when you’re full of sauerkraut.

We really shouldn’t have tried writing this right before lunch. Photo courtesy of The Still.

The Still at MirageWhat to try: Salted caramel sundae
The Still is all about drinking and good times. It’s a place for partiers that focuses on beer and bites that won’t slow down your drinking. They specialize in street tacos with a variety of ingredients, but they also have wonderful apps and soft serve ice cream sundaes. We don’t usually recommend lots of sugar when drinking, but we’ll make an exception here. The Still knows their drinks and knows how to pair them. This is where you want to go when you just want to watch the game, have some beers and not have to think too much about what you’re eating. You know it’s going to be yummy.

Yard House at the LINQ and Town SquareWhat to try: Gardein Spicy Thai Chicken Pizza (They have a full vegetarian menu section)
We’re coming close to breaking our no restaurants rule with Yard House, but they take their beer so seriously we’ll work it in. They have a variety of small bites including edamame, shiitake garlic noodles and sweet potato fries. And they have a full food menu with plenty of seating for full meals. If you want to plan a whole meal, Yard House has you covered. And if you just want to swing in for a beer flight, you’re totally welcome to do that too. Yard House is all about keeping things fresh and cool. This is a great place to bring a large party if you and your friends need a place to drink and can’t agree on how much food you’ll need — spoiler: it’ll be lots.

Mmm. They can creme brulee us any day. Photo courtesy of Nine Fine Irishmen.

Nine Fine Irishmen at NYNYWhat to try: Drunken Onion Rings
We’re now moving into our Irish Pub section. These two spots are the big potatoes of the Irish Pub scene in Las Vegas. The first, Nine Fine Irishmen, is a staple of NYNY and has firmly secured its mark on Las Vegas. Come here for the ambiance and the activity, whether or not it’s St. Patrick’s Day. They have a great selection of stuff you’d expect like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips, but they also take things up several notches with Irish nachos and tomato gin soup. That’s tomato soup with gin in it because clearly someone heard our prayers. And while you’re there just enjoy the atmosphere. There’s no place like this in town.

The second thing that comes to mind when we imagine eating something Irish. Photo courtesy of Ri Ra.

Rí Rá at the Shoppes at Mandalay PlaceWhat to try: The Full Irish Breakfast
We did just say there’s no place like that one in town, and that’s still true even with this next Irish Pub. Rí Rá has its own flavor and its own style. Rí Rá is a beautiful addition to the Shoppes at Mandalay Place and you feel truly transported when you step inside. They have a full menu of Irish breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner options. And they also have a daily afternoon tea that comes with pastries and finger sandwiches. For an authentic Irish pub drinking and dining experiencing, it’s tough to compete with Rí Rá.

This is exactly what it looks like. Photo courtesy of Vice Versa.

Vice Versa at VdaraWhat to try: Truffle fries. Truh. Full. Fry. Z.
Did you catch that? We’re talking truffle fries. The gorgeous and secluded Vice Versa at Vdara is one of our favorite spots to chill and escape the bustle of the Strip. Head out onto the patio and enjoy the weather in plenty of shade. And be sure to eat up while you’re there. The menu is all delicious and every bit as upscale and elegant as you’d expect from Vdara. This is a place to take your time and savor everything. They only have small plates and deserts, but don’t hesitate to order more than one option. There’s a lot to try here and you don’t want to miss out on something spectacular.

No matter how much you want to, it’s considered impolite to slam your face into the meatball all at once. Photo courtesy of LAVO.

LAVO Casino Club at PalazzoWhat to try: The Meatball
We’re kind of cheating on this one, since the food is actually coming from the amazing LAVO restaurant, but we don’t care. It’s too good to not include. LAVO Casino Club is a totally unique experience. With table games and a DJ, it’s like nothing else in Vegas. And when you buy an entry package, you can get food service with it. They have everything from appetizers to steaks, and the packages range from specialty apps to a complete four-course dinner. This is the place to go when you want to class it up. This isn’t a ‘let’s throw on our boots and get some greasy bar food’ place. This is, let’s get dressed up and hope to every deity we can find that we don’t spill marinara sauce on our fancy clothes. If you do it’ll be a double waste. You’ll have a stain and you’ll have lost some of that incredibly delicious sauce. Eat safe, people.

Comments

I came from a little town in the Midwest. And believe me, I’m never going back. It’s probably nice if you love grass and snow; but I love the lights, the glamour, and the flocks of tourists seeking fun and fortune. Once the sun goes down, I’ll be the first one out hitting the clubs or just wandering the Strip for a little nighttime adventure. Passing through Bond on my way to Lily Bar, or taking a shortcut through Double Helix before landing at Parasol Up/Down, I’m the one you’ll randomly bump into – only sometimes literally – strolling through Sin City’s liquored veins – and loving every minute of it.